'Despite facing resistance Gen Zia built roads in the area but PPP has given us nothing'

Traveling has become a nightmare for residents of Qambar Shahdadkot

KARACHI: Residents of  Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)'s strong-hold, Qambar Shahdadkot District in Sindh, faced torture, lynching and imprisonment after the death of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto yet its sacrifices remain unacknowledged by the party.



Speaking to The Express Tribune, Mohammad Roshan lamented that PPP had forsaken the area and its people after Bhutto's death. He claimed PPP’s elected representatives for national and provincial assemblies— Ghulam Mujtaba Isran and Amir Magsi— did not visit the constituency after general elections 2013.

Rundown road in Qamber district's Thorhi Bijar village. PHOTO: EXPRESS

Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of the village, said despite the district’s resistance against former dictator General Ziaul Haq, the army chief had built roads in 1984. “But the PPP has given us nothing. Not a single penny has been spent on rebuilding the streets in the last 33 years consequently the road is dilapidated.”

Rundown road in Qamber district's Thorhi Bijar village. PHOTO: EXPRESS

The roads between Thorhi Bijar village, Qamber and Lalu Raunk were once frequented by Bhutto, former Chief Martial Law Administrator General Ayub Khab and Shah Faisal among others as they made their way to Drigh Lake where Bhutto had built a rest house to host foreign dignitaries. “Bhutto sahib stayed at the rest house with foreign delegations,” said Roshan, a landlord in the area. “The villagers facilitated foreign diplomats in bird hunting.”

Rundown road in Qamber district's Thorhi Bijar village. PHOTO: EXPRESS

“No vehicle can drive through the road once frequented by Bhutto sahib,” added Ghulam. He said the villagers had approached DC Qamber and Larkana commissioner during the last decade of PPP tenure for reconstruction but all in vain.

Rundown road in Qamber district's Thorhi Bijar village. PHOTO: EXPRESS

The pot-holes ridden path has made travelling a nightmare for locals. A primary teacher Inamul Haq Tunio told The Express Tribune that the road was not even suitable for donkey carts. He added that public transport had become difficult due to the condition as well.

Rundown road in Qamber district's Thorhi Bijar village. PHOTO: EXPRESS

PPP president Nisar Ahmed Khuhro however, defending his party and government said: “People of Qamber Shahdadkot district are loyalist and we spend billions of rupees on Qamber Shahdadkot and Larkana,” he said adding that they would look after those areas where development work has not been carried out.

Commissioner, Larkana Mohammad Abbas Baloch said that he would ask the concern DC to look into the matter. “I have no idea about this area. The elections are on the card. All development work will be carried out after the polls,” he said.